Hanover
The Hanover School Board had weathered criticism over its pick, Sandwich (N.H.) Central School Principal John Hansen, who was not the first choice of parents involved in the search process.
“We regret to have to report that Mr. John Hansen, outgoing principal at the Sandwich (Central School), has withdrawn his name from consideration,” SAU 70 Superintendent Frank Bass said in a Tuesday letter emailed to parents and staff. “We appreciate the careful thought and considerations that went into his decision and wish Mr. Hansen all the best in his future endeavors.”
In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Bass said Hansen had dropped out for “personal reasons.” Hansen could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.
Later that evening, SAU 62 Superintendent Patrick Andrew confirmed that officials in the Mascoma Valley Regional School District had unanimously voted to nominate Hansen for principal at the Enfield Village School.
“He comes to us highly recommended as (a) top quality school leader,” Andrew said in a letter to community members in the district. “We are excited about John coming to Enfield (Village School) and serving on the Mascoma Valley Regional School District leadership team.”
Although a formal contract hasn’t yet been drawn up and signed, Hansen on Tuesday told Andrew that he wanted the job, the Mascoma superintendent said in an interview.
The job in Enfield is a step up for Hansen, who spent more than a decade at Sandwich Central School, which had an enrollment of about 80 students this year.
Enfield Village School, by comparison, has about 200 students, and the Ray School has roughly 470.
In Hanover, administrators still are seeking to replace Matthew Laramie, who resigned as school officials questioned more than $30,000 in expenses he charged to the district.
After meeting the two leading candidates, parents involved in the search process had said that Hansen was not their first choice; instead, they said, they preferred the other finalist, Carl Chambers of the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union.
Chambers was principal of the Newbury Elementary School in Newbury, Vt., from 2008 to 2010.
In Tuesday’s interview, Bass said that although he had appreciated parents’ input in the search process, administrators had chosen Hansen based on a wider range of factors.
But administrators are not falling back on the runner-up, he said.
The School Board had decided to support Hansen as their sole candidate, according to Bass, and now that he has withdrawn, the district will fill the position with a one-year interim principal.
“… Mr. Hansen was the only candidate who had reached the stage of final consideration for the position, so the pool generated by the initial call for applications has now been exhausted,” Bass’ letter said.
The interim principal search will take place in December and January, Bass said in the interview.
Assistant Principal Sarah Curtis, who is serving as the school’s acting principal, also will leave the district soon, and administrators are working to replace her as well, Bass said.
Rob Wolfe can be reached at rwolfe@vnews.com or at 603-727-3242.